Umbrella rib clip



Nov. 28, 1967 1 s. N. SMALL 3,354,516

UMBRELLA R 18 CLI P Filed Oct. 21, 1965 INVENTOR.

/iMl/EL /V SM/ILL BY HTTORNEY United States Patent 3,354,516 UMBRELLA RIB CLIP Samuel N. Small, Valley Stream, N.Y., assignor to Alfred G. Cohen and Paul Weiss, both of Flushing, N.i(.

Filed Oct. 21, 1965, Ser. No. 499,446 3 Claims. (Cl. 2481) ABSTRACT OF TIE DISCLGSURE A clip device adapted for use on the ribs of umbrellas in securing the umbrella top in position on the ribs and wherein the clip device has a wide channel portion at the lower end to engage the flattened end of an umbrella rib to positively retain the clip against displacement. Further, the clip device has inwardly pressed sides midway of ends of the upper and lower portions thereof to insure maintenance of the clip in operative position.

This invention relates to clip devices adapted for use on the ribs of umbrellas in securing the umbrella top or canopy in position on the ribs. More particularly, the invention deals with a clip device having a wide channel or chamber portion at the lower end of the clip adapted to engage a flattened end of an umbrella rib to positively retain the clip against displacement from the rib in stresses or strains contributed to the clip by movement of the umbrella top or canopy. Still more particularly, the in vention deals with a combination, wherein the umbrella rib is so flattened as to provide wide upper and lower surfaces engaged by the clip or the lower chamber or channel portion thereof. Further, the invention deals with a clip having a pair of tooth-like jaws at the upper portion thereof adapted to engage the seam of an umbrella top or canopy.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view through an umbrella top or canopy, illustrating a seam therein and showing one rib of the umbrella and a clip attached thereto in side elevation.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1, illustrating in dot-dash lines the ability of mounting the clip on the rounded portion of the rib of an umbrella.

FIG. 3 is a sectional plan view, generally on the line 33 of FIG. 1, diagrammatically illustrating the engagement of the gripper jaws with the seam of the umbrella top; and

FIG. 4 is a view, similar to FIG. 2, showing only part of the construction and showing a modification.

In FIG. 1 of the drawing, I have illustrated one use of thee lip and, in said figure, shows the top or canopy of the umbrella and at 11 is shown one of the seam portions which joins adjacent sections 10 of the top or canopy, as noted in FIG. 2. The top or canopy can be formed of any desired material, such as commonly employed in the large or what are sometimes referred to as beach umbrellas. However, in the diagrammatic illustration, the fabric top is shown where the sections are seamed together. In the drawing, no attempt has been made to illustrate the type and kind of material employed.

At 12 is shown an umbrella rib having a downwardly offset end portion 12', the offset end portion terminating in a flattened end 13. This flattened end is so formed as to provide sides 14, which extend beyond the normal round diameter or sides of the rib 12, appear from a consideration of FIG. 2. also provides on the end surfaces 15.

At 16 is shown an umbrella top or canopy supporting clip device which, when in operative position as noted in FIG. 2 of the drawing, is generally of hourglass cross sectional contour. At 17 is shown a lower rib engaging portion and at 18 is shown an upper seam gripping portion, including a pair of tooth-like gripper jaws 19. The side walls 20 of the clip device include inwardly pressed portions, substantially V-shaped in cross-section, as seen at 21, these portions being intermediate the ends 17 and 18.

The lower rib engaging portion 17 has a chamber 22 therein which defines what might be termed a channel, in which the flattened end 13 of the rib is arranged. At this time, it is pointed out that, in production of the clip, the sides 20 of the clip are normally spaced apart to facilitate free positioning of the seam between the jaws 19, after which, the sides 20 are moved toward each other in moving the jaws 19 into gripping position with the seam 11 and, in this operation, the upwardly contracted walls on the portion 17 will move into engagement with the sides 14 and the upper surface 15 of the flattened end 13. This engagement is not shown on the extremely large view of FIG. 2, as the engagement is simply a close relationship of the parts. If desired, it will be apparent that added pressure can be applied to the upwardly flared walls for a more positive gripping engagement with the end 13 of the rib. In FIG. 2, the dot-dash showing at 12" shows a cross-section through the rounded portion of the rib 12 to illustrate that, in other uses of the clip, the lower channel or chamber portion 17 can be positioned at different places along the rib to utilize the clip for further support of the umbrella top or canopy 10.

Considering FIG. 3 of the drawing, it will appear that the outer end of the lower portion 17 of the clip ineludes, at its sides, end stop wall portions 23 which check movement of the clip onto the flattened end 13 of the rib. The inner end of the clip is cut away, as seen at 24, to minimize the length of the gripper jaws 19. Again, considering FIG. 3 of the drawing, it will appear that the teeth of the jaws are offset one with respect to the other.

Considering FIG. 4 of the drawing, here the lower portion of a modified form of clip 16' is shown and part of the inwardly pressed portions 21. These portions are so formed as to provide top wall portions 25 which overlie the upper flat surface 15' of the flattened end 13' of the umbrella rib. In other words, the channel or chamber portion 17 more completely conforms to the crosssectional contour of the flattened end 13' in providing a more positive engagement of the clip with the flattened end, which may be desirable in some uses of the device. Here again, the clearances shown in the very much enlarged view indicate that the relationship is close but need not necessarily be binding. However, if a positive grip is desired, the top wall portions 25 can be pressed into firm engagement with the upper surface 15' of the end 13. With this type of structure, the clip will have a single use, namely on the flattened end of the rib of the umbrella.

With both types of clips as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be apparent that the flattened end 13, 13' of the rib rests upon the wide flat upper surface of the bottom wall of the chamber 22 or the chamber 22, noted in FIG. 4.

With clips of the general type and kind under consideration which are now in use, stresses or strains to which the umbrella top or canopy 10 are subjected in the handling, as well as in the use of the umbrella, particularly when exposed to winds of high velocity, have caused as will clearly The flattening 13 wide upper and lower flat the gripper jaws of the clip to spread and, thus, become detached from the seam 11 of the top or canopy 10. With my improved clip device, these objectionable characteristics are obviated, as it is apparent that any stress or strain tending to separate the jaws 19 simply results in more firmly engaging the clip with the flattened end portion 13. In other words, the strain tends to move the upwardly contracted walls of 17, FIG. 2, in the direction of the upper fiat surface 15 of the end 13, or to move the wall portions 25 into firmer engagement with the surface 15.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A clip device for attachment of an umbrella top including a seam to a rib of the umbrella, wherein the rib has a flattened end defining flat upper and lower surfaces, said device comprising a lower rib end engaging portion, an upper portion having a pair of grippers, inwardly pressed sides substantially midway between ends of said upper and lower portions, said grippers being adapted to engage the seam of the umbrella top, and said lower rib end engaging portion snugly engaging sides and upper and lower surfaces of said flattened end of the rib.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the rib engaging end of the clip joins the inwardly pressed sides in upwardly contracted wall portions adapting the clip device for mounting on the normal cross-sectional contour of the umbrella rib.

3. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the clip device, when in gripping engagement with the seam of an umbrella top, is generally of hourglass cross-sectional contour whereby, when the jaws of the upper portion of the clip are subjected to stresses or strains, the lower rib engaging portion is more securely retained in engagement with the flattened end of the umbrella rib.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 514,654 2/ 1894 Higgin. 1,264,076 4/1918 Hout 135- -36 1,516,781 11/1924 Nylen. 2,453,270 11/1948 Russell.

DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Primary Examiner, 

1. A CLIP DEVICE FOR ATTACHMENT OF AN UMBRELLA TOP INCLUDING A SEAM TO A RIB OF THE UMBRELLA, WHEREIN THE RIB HAS A FLATTENED END DEFINING FLAT UPPER AND LOWER SURFACES, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING A LOWER RIB END ENGAGING PORTION, AN UPPER PORTION HAVING A PAIR OF GRIPPERS, INWARDLY PRESSED SIDES SUBSTANTIALLY MIDWAY BETWEEN ENDS OF SAID UPPER AND LOWER PORTIONS, SAID GRIPPERS BEING ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE SEAM OF THE UMBRELLA TOP, AND SAID LOWER RIB END ENGAGING PORTION SNUGLY ENGAGING SIDES AND UPPER AND LOWER SURFACE OF SAID FLATTENED END OF THE RIB. 